To feel sad that the world of work as we knew it has gone forever?

[Youngatheart00]

My work confirmed today we are moving to 100% remote working and will only get together a few times a year for team meetings. I find this so sad. I loved my working life - I know realise so much of that was down to the people. Now all I do all day is stare at screens and give myself a migraine.

They are justifying it by saying ‘most people’ want this despite me never seeing any such survey. It’s a blatant cost cutting exercise.

Anyone else fed up and lonely?

Like, I honestly understand commuting is crap. And for new hires these jobs at your firm can be advertised as WFH from the start.

It is extremely harsh to say that a situation that is upsetting to the OP of a thread is actually brilliant for you and she can just leave.

The needs of ALL employees were never considered when flexible work or WFH was not an option, that's the problem

I agree with this. Around 3 years ago we all got laptops as opposed to desk top pc’s. They did initially allow max one day a week from home but unfortunately a minority of shirkers took it as a day off (though these same shirkers found ways to waste time in the office too!). So straight away the “privilege” was withdrawn, for everyone. Rather than tackle this minority head on.

Those of us who had made it work and were relieved to have even one day a week free of commuting, being able to just get on with things etc were hauled back into the office. I lasted another 6 months after that then specifically took a wfh role.

The ideal solution is everyone works where they work best, at home or office. If that’s not possible for whatever reason then a blend of the two is the fairest solution. Any shirkers need to be dealt with individually by management. I do have sympathy for those that miss the office, I know some of my friends are struggling. But I don’t agree we should go backwards now we’ve finally taken a step forwards.

@thecatandthevicar

Agreed, though if the @thecatandthevicar is as condescending and lacking in empathy for others as she appears here, it certainly won't bother her if they don't!

what was your empathy for all the workers who had to commute in ridiculous conditions and who were desperate not to have to go to an office - but had bills to pay?

Or is it fair to say they didn't really bother you, did they...

Working at the office has been the established norm for as long as well, people have worked in office environments and anyone who went into that knew what they were letting themselves in for and what they were in for, the good and the bad. If they choose to do so and take on crazy commutes to earn high salaries but buy cheaper/larger houses at a distance, well that's also a choice. For the OP, there has been a fundamental alteration in the nature of her employment about which she was given no choice and she is allowed to feel bad and sad about that. The two situations are not comparable

I know people have other preferences, but did they really care about the work force that was depressed every Sunday night about going back to the office?

What a ridiculous comment. Why is it anyone's duty to care about random strangers being unhappy at work? Presumably at jobs they chose to do? That's between them and their employers surely.

Enjoying WFH doesn't make you a superior person, despite your smuggery. Neither does preferring to go to the office. People's circumstances and personalities are different. Whoda thought it eh? If someone enjoyed her previous work environment, it's OK for her to feel sad that it might have gone. It's great that you're oh-so-productive and not in need of social interaction outside of 'hobbies', but not everyone feels the same way.

I’m curious how many ‘I love my job’ people say that because of the actual work they do or because of the people and teams they worked with

This is me! I had only been in my job a short while after not working for a few years when lockdown hit. I LOVED being back in the office. I loved the commute and being around people and not stuck in the shitty soulless suburbs all day. Now in lockdown am I left with is the bit of my job I wasnt' so keen on - the actual work!

My employer is probably getting rid of the office. I am starting to look for another job, which is a shame as I really liked my colleagues, but no point staying because I like my colleagues when I never see them anymore.

I hear you OP

@Ellpellwood

You applied for a job 2 hours away. There not being any jobs offering your salary within 2 hours needs you needed to move or change industry, not that your colleagues should have their contracts altered wholesale because you're sick of crowded trains/tubes/motorways.

HAHA so you'd be happy to pay benefits for people like me not having to commute any more?

Or you subsidise my mortgage nearer the office?

It's a very kind offer, thanks

I am not the cause for the change of the working way. The pandemic has nothing to do with me. I am merely working to keep the few positive changes that this whole mess has brought.

Every single commuter is sick of commuting you know.

But you can change industry or move if you are not happy. You had your turn.

I’m no longer in an office, but if I was I’d be thrilled with wfh. No commute, time with my family, time to get groceries, not worrying about walking to the bus in the dark. Added to that that I was bullied and wfh would reduce the opportunity for that.

I’d imagine sick leave, stress-induced and otherwise, would go down a lot with wfh.

But you can change industry or move if you are not happy. You had your turn.

Do I really need to post for the 4th time that I am happily back in the office, doing my 10 minute commute? I guess I do!

If they choose to do so and take on crazy commutes to earn high salaries but buy cheaper/larger houses at a distance, well that's also a choice. For the OP, there has been a fundamental alteration in the nature of her employment about which she was given no choice and she is allowed to feel bad and sad about that. The two situations are not comparable

Spot on!

I think one of the benefits of physical workplaces is the variety of people you meet. In my central London office I talk to people aged from 20-60. My colleagues come from across the world and have a wide range of backgrounds, political viewpoints etc. Chatting to them gives me insights into a whole range of things

If I attempted to replace this element of my life by strengthening eg my local friendships, something would be lost. My local friends are generally people like me - forty something, usually mums, white, middle class, homeowners. Going to work and talking to people who aren’t like you is essential I think. Otherwise people will be forced even further into their echo chambers and have even less understanding of the situations of people who are not like them in some way. Which is only going to be bad for society

This is such a good point. One of the things I loved about starting working again was having a diverse and interesting range of people to talk. People whom I just wouldn't meet in my normal life.

@thecatandthevicar. Most of the people I know in Ireland who commute the really crazy distances do so because they want not just any house but a very big house and a really big garden and/or to live as far away from a city as possible and surround themselves with the 'right' kind of people. They have largely taken it upon themselves to make their life during the week a misery and my sympathies are limited. I know the southeast of England is even crazier for property prices but very few people are forced to live at that kind of distance from work - you can live in a smaller property, in a more mixed community or take a lower salary job near where you live. I know this isnt the whole story of course - you have for instance couples who work in opposite directions etc - but on the whole, these are not a constiturncy of people I feel that desperately sorry for. I save that for people who have to work in the city (like cleaners, taxi drivers, workers in shops etc) and earn shitty salaries and live in shitty crowded accomodation because they couldnt afford to commute 2 hours a day

I found this funny... I am sure most of us have co-workers that we rather avoid 😂

I’d imagine sick leave, stress-induced and otherwise, would go down a lot with wfh.

We’ve found sick leave in terms of colds/flu/stomach bugs etc has gone down but stress-induced/anxiety/depression has gone up. Whether that’s due to wfh itself or the wider pandemic isn’t clear. But there’s a substantial enough number of people really struggling with wfh that everyone remaining fully remote is not being considered.

@JeanClaudeVanDammit

I’d imagine sick leave, stress-induced and otherwise, would go down a lot with wfh.

We’ve found sick leave in terms of colds/flu/stomach bugs etc has gone down but stress-induced/anxiety/depression has gone up. Whether that’s due to wfh itself or the wider pandemic isn’t clear. But there’s a substantial enough number of people really struggling with wfh that everyone remaining fully remote is not being considered.

It's a difficult picture due to the times we're living in.

People's mental health has taken a battering generally, so it's difficult to gauge how much to attribute that to WFH in general. Obviously there'll be individual cases where people really struggle with it. In our place we've been quite fortunate that the office has been open throughout and it's been optional to work in the office for people, within the strict social distance guidelines (i.e. not the usual office/team atmosphere).

I love WFH but I was really struggling in particularly January-February due to how bleak everything was. I used up the last two weeks of my annual leave just for a breather which helped break that up a bit because I just didn't have the motivation. In normal times it'd be easier.

This 100%* The needs of ALL employees were never considered when flexible work or WFH was not an option, that's the problem

Also just because working in an office is an established norm doesn't mean it has to stay the same way forever. Things change and if some people work better at home for whatever reason then there should be space for that in 2021 and beyond. WFH has opened up all kinds of opportunities, especially to people who struggle to get into offices and should be embraced where it works.

I love WFH, where i work it is quite rural so nothing to do or time to go anywhere, i guess if i worked in London or a big city with things on your doorstep it would be different as you would miss popping into shops on your lunch break.

Sadly there are plans for us to return to the office. I really dont want to go.

I suppose one good thing could be people applying for jobs that work best fit them whether it’s wfh or mix or at work.

I know I’d like a mix rather than five days in or out.

@MarshaBradyo

I suppose one good thing could be people applying for jobs that work best fit them whether it’s wfh or mix or at work.

I know I’d like a mix rather than five days in or out.

I'd hate to go back to 5 days in the office, but not leaving the office isn't good for you either. I'd like a mix ultimately.

In reality though beggars can't be choosers when it comes to work. Especially in the job market that's going to be the next few years.

*not leaving the house

theleafandnotthetree

if you are consistent, you shouldn't feel sorry for the taxi/cleaners/shop workers, surely they can find another job elsewhere too?

It's easy to pretend that people can easily work somewhere else or relocate, or retrain, but in real life? What exactly do you want me to do?

Apply for a job in Tesco? They receive hundreds of CVs every day. How easy would it be to be accepted do you think?

I have noticed, that when WFH, you need to be really sick to call in sick, not even log in for a few hours, whereas before if you were too ill to get on the train, you didn't work that day, and actually had a day to recover. The lack of sick days will be partly less coughs and colds (although that benefit will drop when staff are socialising again), but also more people struggling through.

All of the (well-meaning) comments about how badly this will affect young people, how young people need the socialisation of the office, are not indicative of how society is now.

You are comparing it to how it was when you were young 10, 20 or 30 years ago. This generation of new workers in their late teens-mid 20s are entirely used to communicating and making and maintaining friendships and relationships remotely. Social media is the norm for them, and what they have grown up with. Video calls, voice notes, chatting and debating with people in the comments sections on social media is what they have grown up with and a normal part of life. Just think even 10-15 years ago, internet dating or meeting friends online was still seen as a bit odd, or only for "weirdos", now it's a part of everyone's lives.

Young people really aren't as phased by remote working and communicating as a lot of the commenters on here think they are. It's so completely normal for them.

This generation of new workers in their late teens-mid 20s are entirely used to communicating and making and maintaining friendships and relationships remotely.

I could not disagree more (in relation to them wfh).

All of our young staff are miserable and struggling.

Video calls, voice notes, chatting and debating with people in the comments sections on social media is what they have grown up with and a normal part of life.

I'm in my 50s and it's a normal part of life for me too, but it's certainly not a substitute for real life.

If young people loved online 'interaction' so much, then we wouldn't be hearing from students about how much they've hated the past year stuying online at university. Interacting via a screen is never going to be a substitute for real human interaction.

You are comparing it to how it was when you were young 10, 20 or 30 years ago. This generation of new workers in their late teens-mid 20s are entirely used to communicating and making and maintaining friendships and relationships remotely.

Can’t speak for anyone else but no, I’m basing it off what the 20 somethings and new grad starters are actually telling us. In general, they want some face to face time and feel they’re missing out compared to the experience gained by previous cohorts.